Vernon Hills gaining momentum
With conference meets and the postseason just around the corner, things are looking up for the Vernon Hills wrestling team.
The Cougars went 3-0 Saturday at the Wauconda triple-dual meet as they opened the morning session with a 45-24 nonconference victory over Huntley. Vernon Hills (20-7) went on to capture a similar 47-24 victory over Johnsburg in the second round before closing out the day with a 43-28 win over Freeport.
Huntley went 2-1 on the day with a 36-30 victory over Antioch’s depleted lineup in round II and an exciting 39-37 triumph over the host Bulldogs in the final round.
Freeport was also 2-1 with a slim 32-27 win over the Sequoits in the first round and memorable 37-36 victory over Wauconda (12-8) based on tie-breaker criteria in the second round.
The Bulldogs did topple Johnsburg 45-24 in their first meet of the day while Antioch fell to the Skyhawks 36-31 in its last meet.
Starting the meet at 126 pounds against Huntley, Vernon Hills’ perfect 3-0 day was led by Class 2A No. 1-ranked 285-pound senior Jeremy Brazil, who improved his record to 30-1 with three more wins Saturday.
Brazil’s only loss of the season was against De La Salle’s James Busse at the Leyden tournament.
“I would say I have a lot of self confidence and having that loss keeps me humble,” said Brazil, who placed second in the state last year. “The key for me is conditioning and doing what I can do in the next month to month and a half.”
Besides Brazil, teammates Danny Klema (152), David Pierce (145), Jeremy Sullivan (160), Ben Turley (170), and Felipe Vazquez (120) all went 3-0 overall.
“We knew we had a chance to go 3-0 or we could go 0-3 and the kids came out and wrestled well,” said Vernon Hills coach Jerry Micelli, whose dual meet was cancelled Friday night due to the snowstorm. “They all came in early, they were on weight, and they were ready to go.”
After beating Johnsburg, Wauconda’s last two meets went down to the wire with Freeport pulling out a 37-36 win based on pins in the tie-breaker criteria.
Then against Huntley, the Bulldogs held a 31-30 lead with three matches left and a 37-35 advantage after Devin Tortorice (27-7) recorded a pin at 126.
But the final bout of the day was a 15-1 major decision by the Red Raiders at 132 and that carried the visitors to a 39-37 win.
Fourth-ranked sophomore Nate Magiera (29-3 at 195/220) added three more wins for Wauconda as did teammates Bruce Pearl (22-9 at 145), Jake Sherman 21-2 at 195/220), and Tortorice (120/126).
“We had some positives, but we showed that we are a young team and we made some young mistakes today,” said Wauconda coach Tom Nance. “We’re planning on finishing strong and our goal is to grow this year. We’re learning, sometimes painfully.”
Only allowed 21 dual-meet matches for the season, Antioch was short-handed against all three of its opponents as the Sequoits had to forfeit four or more bouts in every dual meet.
There were quite a few bright spots for Antioch though as George Gonzalez (152), Mike Gussarson (126), and Zach Epker (170) all went 3-0 on the day.
“We’re only allowed 21 dual meets and we’re wrestling Monday (remake) so several of our kids were at their limit,” said Antioch coach Wilbur Borrero. “We’re going to be alright down the road and I’m hoping by regionals we’re at full strength.”
The North Suburban Conference meet is next Friday and Saturday at Libertyville with the host Wildcats going for a fourth straight NSC crown. Warren, Grant, and Lake Zurich are expected to be top teams in the final standings.